Pumpkin Cheesecake Brownies Recipe: A Seasonal Fall Favorite Dessert

16 Servings
1 hr 10 min

Sugar is evil, but… Darn it. Brownies. There’s no harm, no foul indulging in a treat from time to time. And brownies are my jam. With the fall harvest in sight and pumpkins popping up everywhere, it’s hard to resist whipping up these pumpkin cheesecake brownies!

Pumpkin Cheesecake Brownies: The Perfect Fall DessertI’ll admit that I really don’t eat desserts very often. I cut out most sugar from my diet some time back. After learning that sugar causes inflammation, the last thing I wanted to do was make my body hate me more than it already does.

While the fibromyalgia is mostly under control these days, there’s this mid-life hell called perimenopause. As it slowly causes an evolution that requires an equivalent of 1980s mom jeans, I’ve really tried to avoid empty calories. Meaning desserts. Two giant servings of macaroni and cheese. 500 calorie coffees from Starbucks. An entire pint of Ben & Jerry’s.

Unfortunately my backside is insisting on repositioning itself on the other side of my body. Prominently in the middle where it’s impossible to hide. The only plus is that, as my chin has started slink down from my cheeks, some of it seems to have given my chest a bit of extra abundance. I won’t even go into the bloating.

Still, I’m not a complete masochist. There are days when self care absolutely requires something to satisfy my sweet tooth. Brownies are my go to. While I prefer them with icing so they look more like a birthday cake than a pan of brownies, swirling in cheesecake is actually crazy delish and doesn’t make my teeth ache thinking about it.

These pumpkin cheesecake brownies are easier to make than you might imagine. Start with a box of your favorite brownie mix (I opt for chewy and extra fudgy) and throw in some canned pumpkin, cream cheese and everyone’s fall favorite – pumpkin spice! Then top it all off with some pecan streusel and you’ve got yourself a dessert worthy of the season! 

Like this dessert recipe? Also try my  easy brown drop sugar cookies recipe.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Brownies Recipe: A Seasonal Fall Favorite Dessert
Recipe details
  • 16  Servings
  • Prep time: 15 Minutes Cook time: 55 Minutes Total time: 1 hr 10 min
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Ingredients
Brownie Ingredients
  • 1 Box brownie mix, made according to package directions
Pumpkin Cheesecake Layer Ingredients
  • ½ Cup softened cream cheese
  • ½ Cup canned pumpkin
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • ½ tsp pumpkin pie spice
Pecan Streusel Topping Ingredients
  • ½ Cup chopped pecans
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp flour
  • 2 tbsp melted butter
  • ¼ tsp pumpkin pie spice
Instructions

Preheat oven to temperature indicated on the box of brownie mix.
Line a 7x9 pan with parchment paper, or spray with non stick spray.
Prepare brownie mix according to package directions and pour into prepared pan, reserving ½ cup for later.
In a small bowl, mix together the ingredients for the cheesecake layer (cream cheese, pumpkin, sugars, egg and pumpkin pie spice.) Pour over brownie and smooth out. Drop the reserved ½ cup of brownie batter by the spoonful over the cheesecake layer, then gently swirl the two layers with a spoon or spatula.
Next, make the streusel topping by combining the pecans, brown sugar, flour, melted butter, and pumpkin pie spice in a small bowl.
Sprinkle streusel mix on top of the brownies.
Bake for approximately 55 min until brownies are set and edges are just beginning to brown. Allow to cool then cut into bars.
Rebecca D. Dillon
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